Do Med Schools Consider Rigor of Undergraduate University?

[NeuroticTwilightSparkle]

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Here's what I don't understand: why does it matter? Chances are, you can't change your GPA. You aren't sitting there saying, well I got to MIT so I don't need an A in this class and can get away with only doing the work for a B. No, you are working hard, trying to get the best grades possible. Your GPA is what it is. Your MCAT is what it is. There is (except when choosing what schools to apply to) no point comparing yourself to others since the outcome of your application will be the same regardless of what other people are doing.

If your GPA is low for a certain medical school, don't assume you will get slack for going to a hard college. If your GPA is high for a certain medical school, don't waste your time worrying about whether your college will be judged.

Keep your head down, put your best foot forward when applying, be nice to your peers, hope you get in.

I don't think that this is the rationale of the folks who ask this question. No one is sitting there thinking, "B at MIT = A at state college" so I'm going to blow off my classes. They might ask to get an idea of what their reaches/targets/safeties are based on their GPA. Or they might be wondering if it would be a good idea to transfer to a school where they think they would get better grades...

 

[childish93]

For all of the Ivy/little Ivy/NESCAC/deflating school people here:

http://www.whatwouldmyharvardgrade.be/

 

[jm192]

I don't think that this is the rationale of that folks who ask this question. No one is sitting there thinking, "B at MIT = A at state college" so I'm going to blow off my classes. They might ask to get an idea of what their reaches/targets/safeties are based on their GPA. Or they might be wondering if it would be a good idea to transfer to a school where they think they would get better grades...

I always assume that it's a reassurance sort of thing, or someone gets curious and wants to know.

That said, you should never transfer to get better grades. You're just as likely to find out your B's are the result of your study habits. Maybe you transfer and run into a couple incredibly hard professors.

 

[DermViser]

I had a 2.9-3.0 sGPA at BU, then went to my stateschool for an additional 2 years of GPA redemption and had a straight 4.0 in all upper-level science. They don't care.

They prefer the 4.0 from state than the 3.0 from prestige.

And then they wonder why students flounder in the first 2 years.

 

[kyamh]

They might ask to get an idea of what their reaches/targets/safeties are based on their GPA.

<rant>
I've looked at school information in MSAR, and I just don't see schools that are all that different from one another...what are you all seeing? This is one of the major recurring SDN themes I do not understand: find schools "in your range". Sure, if your GPA is a 3.0, you shouldn't be applying to a school where the average GPA is a 3.9 but for many applicants there are just SO MANY schools that are "in their range" because the ranges of the schools are so wide.

From what I remember, there were 3-4 types of schools. I. had MCAT around 35-36 and GPA 3.8+, II. had MCAT around 32-34 and GPA ~3.7-3.8, III. had MCAT around 30-31 and GPA around 3.6-3.7, IV. stats went lower but was usually super IS selective.

I and III are different, sure, but I and II are super similar (if you account for ranges) and II and III are super similar too. In other words, the middle 50% of MCAT/GPA overlap quite a bit. Even if your GPA is a little higher or lower (real of perceived based on undergraduate grade deflation) you still probably have the same reaches/targets.

</rant>

 

[SweetCaroline7]

I don't think anyone is suggesting that OP, or really anyone for that matter, should start chillin' 5 days a week and ignore the competitive nature of this process. That said, I also think this process breeds neuroticism, and if it helps you sleep a little better at night to know that your grade deflating/tough school will be recognized as such, then find your school's statistics and use that power to keep chugging through. I don't see anything wrong with wanting to know your chances based on students like you from your school.

 

[Zelda840]

<rant>
I've looked at school information in MSAR, and I just don't see schools that are all that different from one another...what are you all seeing? This is one of the major recurring SDN themes I do not understand: find schools "in your range". Sure, if your GPA is a 3.0, you shouldn't be applying to a school where the average GPA is a 3.9 but for many applicants there are just SO MANY schools that are "in their range" because the ranges of the schools are so wide.

From what I remember, there were 3-4 types of schools. I. had MCAT around 35-36 and GPA 3.8+, II. had MCAT around 32-34 and GPA ~3.7-3.8, III. had MCAT around 30-31 and GPA around 3.6-3.7, IV. stats went lower but was usually super IS selective.

I and III are different, sure, but I and II are super similar (if you account for ranges) and II and III are super similar too. In other words, the middle 50% of MCAT/GPA overlap quite a bit. Even if your GPA is a little higher or lower (real of perceived based on undergraduate grade deflation) you still probably have the same reaches/targets.

</rant>

I had a really hard time with this since my GPA was great (3.9+) but my MCAT was so low (29).

 

[nabilesmail]

Lmao at the kid comparing berkeley or any of the "public IVY's" to an actual IVY. Cornells bottom 25% in SAT is probably Berkeley's 75%, and Cornell is a lower IV.

The best Public schools are still nowhere near the IVY leagues. Berkeleys reputation comes from its graduate school, as an undergrad its a good school, but not elite.

 

[V5RED]

Lmao at the kid comparing berkeley or any of the "public IVY's" to an actual IVY. Cornells bottom 25% in SAT is probably Berkeley's 75%, and Cornell is a lower IV.

The best Public schools are still nowhere near the IVY leagues. Berkeleys reputation comes from its graduate school, as an undergrad its a good school, but not elite.

LMAO at made up statistics used to make a point.

Real numbers:
25th/75th percentile SAT
UC Berkeley: 1840/2240
Cornell: 1970/2270

There is barely any difference in their numbers especially at the 75th percentile.

http://collegeapps.about.com/od/collegeprofiles/p/Cornell_profile.htm
http://collegeapps.about.com/od/collegeprofiles/p/Berkeley_Profil.htm

 

[Dwan]

If you look up "public ivy," it doesn't even refer to only the top public schools like UC Berkeley. The list encompasses 30 schools with wide variability in rigor, some with acceptance rates >50%... While they are not bad schools, the term is meaningless.

Once you go on the interview trail, you'll realize 75%+ of the students are from prestigious schools (including UCB) who have managed. When the competition nowadays consists of so many applicants who went to well-known, rigorous colleges and achieved good scores, you're not doing yourself a favor by trying to take the easy route.

 

[SpaceyWacey]

I recently had the privilege of meeting the Dean of Admissions from a pretty well known and 'prestigious' medical school. Someone asked this question, his answer was possibly, but if so it won't matter nearly as much as you think it will.

 

[nabilesmail]

LMAO at made up statistics used to make a point.

Real numbers:
25th/75th percentile SAT
UC Berkeley: 1840/2240
Cornell: 1970/2270

There is barely any difference in their numbers especially at the 75th percentile.

http://collegeapps.about.com/od/collegeprofiles/p/Cornell_profile.htm
http://collegeapps.about.com/od/collegeprofiles/p/Berkeley_Profil.htm

Yup, so I was wrong, but a 130 point difference at the 25% is HUGE. Also, keep in mind, Cornell is the lowest IVY.

 

[WhittyPsyche]

To add to the opinions.

A dean of admissions at a top 20 said they aren't interested in any elitist perceptions. And as such all GPAs are viewed in same light with their perspective being to see how the applicant succeeded in the environment they were placed in. ie didn't fall into the average regardless of what school they went to, nor laid back because of perceived rigor meaning they didn't have to worry about GPA as much as the next guy. It's also known that the top students in public schools tend to have similar success in other schools because it largely reflects in the students determination and less on the school's reputation.

And as someone said before, perceived rigor tends to not align with the actual truth...